Desk-lid support.



No. 629,8!6. 'Patented Aug. .1, |899..

. E. F. PUDLEY.

DESK LID SUPPUBT.

` 4(Appxiwxirm med-.nine 4, 1897. Renewed .rm 7, 1899.) (No Model.)

*EE JL SW1/vbo@ @m04 e' I @MoU/mam iiush therewith. The two channel-bars are arranged in the same vertical plane and are usually similar in cross-section with the inturned top flanges, rendering the bars rectangular in cross-section with the top longitudinal opening and the straight parallel sides and bottom. The link e is usually rectangular in cross-section or otherwise formed to close down into the two channel-bars, between the fianges thereof, while the rod is formed inverted-T-shaped, so as to extend beneath the iianges of the channel-bar f and held confined therein to slide only. The two channel-bars are arranged in the shelf and lid with their front and 'rear ends respectively brought together and united by suitable hinges, which also constitute the lidhinges and the means for uniting the lid and shelf. Two parallel flat leaf-hinges 7th are employed for this purpose. Each hinge is composed of two rectangular plates arranged vertically on edge, having the overlapping pivoted eyes at their adjoining ends. The height of each plate is about equal to the depth of the groove of the channel-bars, and the top flanges of the channel-bars are cut away'on each side a distance equal to the length of each hinge, and the hinges are inserted in the channel-bars and are rigidly secured by rivets or other means against the opposite inner sides of' the vertical walls on the channel-bars, so that the pivots of the two hinges will be over the junction between the meeting and abutting ends of the two channel-bars and so that the two hinges will extend into the groove of the channel-bars and form a contracted space between them, with the ends of the hinges forming the rigid shoulders 2 2 and 3 3 facing in opposite directions. The hinges rest on the bottoms or floors of the channel-bars, and hence materially strengthen and brace the joint between the saine and render the device otherwise stron g and durable. The opposite sides of the link, where it lies between said hinges when the lid is lowered in its horizontal position, are recessed (see e" e) to fit down into the con tracted space between the hinges and to form the oppositelyfacing shoulders 2 2/ and 3 3 to ccperate with and abut against the shoulders 2 2 and 3 3, formed bythe ends of the hinges. These abutting shoulders on opposite sides of the hinge-joint greatly strengthen the hinge and relieve the pivots and connections of strain under down pressure on the lid when lowered, whereby a most strongand rigid joint and hinge are provided, capable of resisting great strain and weight even should the supporting-slides be not employed and the lilik be merely loosely confined to the desk shelf and lid to permit swinging of the link as the lid is raised and closing of the link down into Said bars as the lid is lowered.

In preparing the lid and shelf to receive the sl`ide-operating device it is only necessary to place the lid and shelf in a routing or other suitable machine and cut parallelsided grooves therein of-a sufficient depth and size to receive said channel-bars, with the top surfaces thereof flush with the lid and shelf. Each groove can be formed by a single cut of the machine to most accurately receive a channel-bar without fitting or handwork in shaping the groove. This is possible because of the straight parallel sides of the bars th roughout their entire lengths, which is attained by locating the hinges entirely within the bars. In the old construction mentioned, where the hinges were located on the outsides of the bars, great difficulty was experienced in properly fitting the hinged bars in the lid and shelf, as offsets had to'be cut by hand in the side walls of the grooves to receive the outside hinges, and as these devices are applied to very expensive desks the utmost care and skill was required to make a most accurate and artistic fit and joint between the parts. Considerable time and skilled labor was hence required to properly fit and secure each pair of channel-bars, thereby materially adding to the cost of making the desks, and, furthermore, the hinged joint between the channelbars was weakened by locating the hinges on the outside, and the general appearance of the device was marred by the very wide joint necessary at the hinge.

In Fig. 7 a modified construction is shown wherein the hinges are so set into the inner faces of the side walls of the channel-bars or are so reduced in thickness as to avoid the necessity of cutting the side recesses in the link opposite the hinges, as in this modified construction the groove of the channel-bars is not reduced between the hinges. However, although this modified structure is clearly within the spirit and scope of my invention, yet I prefer the construction wherein the link abuts against the hinges.

It is evident that various changes and modifications might be made in the forms, constructions, and arrangements of the parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the constructions as shown anddescribed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a lid-support, the combination of the two channel-bars having the inturned upper flanges, a link pivoted to one bar and loosely confined at its opposite end, said fianges cut away at the adjoining ends of the bars, and verticallyarranged leafhinges within the bars and rigidly secured at the inner surfaces of opposite sides of the bars where the iian ges are cut away and uniting the bars, substantially as described.

2. In adeskelid support, the combination of the two channel-bars, leaf-hinges secured on opposite sides of the inner faces of the sides of the bars and formin g oppositely-facing shoul- IOO IIS

62eme a ders, and a swinging link arranged to close down into the bars and having oppositelyfacing shoulders arranged to abut against said shoulders of the two hinges, substantially as described.

3. In a drop-lid desk, the combination of the shelf, the Swingin g lid, hinges uniting the lid and shelf arranged with the opposite ends forming oppositely-facing shoulders, and a swinging link confined at its opposite ends to the lid and shelf and having oppositelyfacing shoulders arranged to abut against the ends of said hinges, substantially as de'- scribed.

4. In a lid-support, the combination of two channel-bars arranged to be set and secured in grooves of equal width throughout in a lid and shelf, a link pivoted to one bar at one end and loosely conned at its opposite end, and having the intermediate opposite side seats, a-nd the two iiat leaf-hinges set vertically and connecting the two channel-bars, said hinges arranged within and secu red against the inner sides, respectively, of the bars, whereby the outer faces of the channel-bars are straight throughout, the opposite side seats of said link receiving said two hinges as the same close down into said bars and between the inner sides of the hinges, substantially as described.

5. In a lid-desk, the combination of the desk-shelf, the lid, the transverse grooves in the same of equal width throughout, whereby each groove can be formed by one cut of a routing-tool, a pair of channel-bars flush in said grooves, a pair of fiat leaf-hinges within and uniting said bars, said hinges at their lower edges resting on the bottoms of the bars and rigidly secured iiat against the inner opposite side faces of thel bars, respectively, whereby the hinges brace against the bottoms of the bars and strengthen the bars at the joint between them, and a swinging pivoted link arranged to close down into said bars between said two hinges within the bars,

substantially as described.

6. The lid-support comprising the two channel-bars of the same external width throughout, whereby the bars can be secured in grooves of the saine width throughout, the swinging pivoted link arranged to close down into the bars, the bars at the adjoining ends thereof, having opposite side seats or recesses for the two connecting-hinges, the connecting-hinges within the bars and secured within the seats of said bars and receiving the link between their Vseparated. inner faces, whereby the bars are braced and side projections or enlargements at the end portions of the bar are avoided, substantially as described.

7. A lid-support comprising the two connected channel-bars,` the swinging pivoted link arranged to close down in the saine, and the two iiat leaf-hinges connecting said bars and arranged within and on opposite sides thereof and secured dat against the inner faces of the opposite inner faces of the bar so that said link closes down between the two hinges, each hinge having a shoulder and the link having opposing side shoulders to abut against the same, substantially as described.

8. In a lid-desk, the combination of a desk shelf or top, a lid, channel-bars set in the lid and shelf and pivotally joined to form the lid-hinge connection, said bars having internal shoulders, and a link at one end portion pivotally joined to one bar and loosely confined at its opposite end and having shoulders to receive said shoulders within said bars when the link closes down into the bars and the lid is dropped, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. EDWARD F. POOLEY.

W'itnesses:

FRANK B; STooKLEv, EDWIN C. NEvIN. 

